- Stress and anxiety
- Attachment issues
- CBT and DBT methods
About Afsha
Afsha Merchant is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with seven years of experience. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She also addresses family of origin issues and related concerns like attachment problems and adoption-related questions.
Afsha uses clear, practical methods in sessions. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at thoughts and behaviors. She uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and Somatic Therapy when bodies hold tension. The Gottman Method informs her work on communication and relationship patterns.
Her style is collaborative and direct. Sessions focus on identifying patterns that started in childhood and how they show up now. She helps people notice communication habits, control and avoidance tendencies, and ways self-worth affects decision making.
Afsha brings cultural awareness into the conversation. She acknowledges how background and identity shape expectations and relationship roles. That perspective is used to make sense of present problems rather than to assign blame.
Practical tools and short-term goals are common in her work. People often leave sessions with concrete skills to try between meetings, such as communication exercises, grounding techniques, or behavior experiments. Progress is tracked by clear, observable steps.
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu. Afsha accepts international clients and works from Illinois as an LCPC. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Approaches used and how online sessions work
Afsha commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and improve mood. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to teach emotion regulation and distress-tolerance techniques that help with intense feelings and relationship conflicts. Somatic Therapy is used when bodily sensations and tension are part of the problem, offering breathing and grounding practices that connect sensation with emotion.Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, life demands, and past experiences, then suggest methods that fit. Clients and therapist review progress and adjust the plan if an approach is not helping as hoped.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow short check-ins that suit a break at work. Some methods, like DBT skills coaching or short CBT check-ins, adapt well to brief online meetings, while somatic exercises may use more time in a session. Ask about format details when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, and depression. Family of origin issues and attachment concerns are also listed areas of focus.
How would you describe her therapeutic approach?
Her approach uses practical, evidence-informed methods such as CBT, DBT, Somatic Therapy, and the Gottman Method. Sessions focus on skills, behavior change, and understanding patterns from childhood.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of experience working with adults on a range of mental health and relationship issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an Illinois LCPC, which stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and practices from Illinois.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu.
Can people outside the US work with her?
International clients are accepted according to the profile information provided.
What formats are used for sessions?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled and how do I start?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To start, select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.